Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-09-29
SET IN DIAMONDS.
By Charlotte M. Braeme.

There was the steadfast light of mar
tyrdom on her face when she turned to
the Duke Of Meath.
al have thought" she said, land L
have no answer to give.
"You will not tell me where the Jew
els are, Mrs. Greyp"
IL can not" she replied, slowly.
1T means the same thing. You know
what the alternative tsp"
al can not imagine it. your grace,
she replied.
"And you will make no effort at avoid
ing itP"
81 can moi" she repeated, warmly.
Still the Duke Of Meath seemed un-
wi ling to leave her.
~ cannot bear the idea" he said
''of a delicate and refined woman like
yourself going to prison.. To mo it
seems perfectly horrible. Can 1 do
nothing to tempt you, to persuade you,
TO beseech you?"
Nothing, your grace" she replied,
gently.
You can not be hardened sinner, n
hardened thief" he continued. lit is
impossible. Can it be at you are a
victim-that you are in some way in the
hands Of this gang"
NO. she replied; my guilt is all
my own"
Then you refuse, definitely, to give
any help or clue, however small. by
which we can discover what we have
lost"
IL can not" she replied.
'You prefer tho alternativc-triel
and prison"
al must bearit," she replied and the
duke, with an angry word, left the
TO m.
~ can do nothing, Ethel" he said,
"you had better go to the wretched
woman yourself, and see il you can in
fuence her."
''Ful G." she cried, am sure there
is some mystery in it. | can never be-
lieve that refined and gentle lady has
anything to do with I"
''You forget the portrait, Ethel"
al do not / saw it brought from her
box, but can not help thinking that
she is shielding some one"
81 do not see who there is 10 shield, "
he replied.
"Nor do 1; but l can not think her
capable of it 1t seems to me quite as
possible that shouldbe thief myself. ="
"Ny Gear Ethel, there is some differ
ence between the Duchess of Meath and
lace mender. Go yourself and see if
you can do any better
The duchess went. She entered the
tapes nv room where the housekeeper
and Mrs. rev still remained. Mrs.
trey had found her calm and dignity
with the duke, she lost it with the Ouch
ess.
"Do not speak to me!'' she cried.
''Do not come near me! do not look at
me with those kind. plying eyes!"
81 would rather" said the duchess,
have lost all my fortune, all my dia-
monds. and everything else than have
seen you in such trouble.
Heaven bless you," sobbed the eld-
er woman.
"My husband has asked me 10 como
and persuade you." she said; persuade
YOU to tell us where the jewels are; but
can not. / feel, no matter how ap
pearances are against you, feel that
you can not be guilty / saw the por-
trait set in diamonds taken from your
box; but ] can not believe you guilty
will not.
"Heayen bless you" sobbed the elder
woman. Il shall take those words
with me even TO my death"
''My great grief is" said the duchess,
''that have lost the most precious me-
meuto / had Of my mother; the only
paper In her handwriting addressed to
ME; that was worth more 10 me than
the diamonds"
The weeping woman drew nearer to
her.
al am going to prison." she said.
"You have been as kind as an angel to
me. VIII you, before 60, forget my
misery and shame, and let me once =
just once-kiss your handsp"
! he duchess tried to take tho trem
bling hands into her own, but the WON
an, who was Marguerite Lady Stair
bent her head and kissed them VIII
passionate kisses and tears.
my Heaven my ALI" the duchess
heard her murmur.
"You will always remember me,
she said, "and remember that said
am guilty.